Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C7/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
  • C25C7/02—Electrodes; Connections thereof
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
  • Y10T29/49892—Joining plate edge perpendicularly to frame
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
  • Y10T29/532—Conductor
  • Y10T29/53204—Electrode

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cathodes used in electrolytic recovery of metals.
• ISA PROCESS stainless steel cathode mother plates are immersed in an electrolyte bath with copper anodes.
• the copper from the anodes dissolve into the electrolyte and are subsequently deposited in a refined form onto the blade of the mother plate.
• the electrolytically deposited copper is then stripped from the blade by first flexing the cathode plate to cause at least part of the copper deposit to separate from the blade, and then wedge stripping or gas blasting the remainder of the copper from the blade.
• the cathode mother plate generally consists of a stainless steel blade, and a hanger bar connected to the top edge of the blade to hold and support the cathode in the electrolytic bath.
• hanger bar constructions There are a wide variety of hanger bar constructions.
• Early cathode plates used solid copper hanger bars which provided not only excellent electrical conductivity but adequate strength to support both the cathode plate and the metal deposited thereon. It was discovered, however, that under repeated use both in the electrolytic bath and in the stripping machinery the relatively ductile copper bar tended to bend or be damaged. hi addition, connection of the stainless steel blade to the copper hanger bar was sometimes difficult.
• the present invention provides a hanger bar for a cathode plate used in electrolytic recovery of metal comprising a corrosion resistant support element adapted for connection to a blade of the the cathode plate, at least a portion of said support having an electrically conductive metal cladding affixed thereto.
• the support element should be resistant to corrosion in the environment of use, ie in the electrolytic bath.
• the corrosion resistant support element is made from stainless steel and is preferably hollow.
• the electrically conductive metal cladding may be affixed to and cover a portion or the entire exterior of the stainless steel support. This is accomplished by any suitable technique eg an interference fit, welding, chemical or mechanical fastening, roll forming, etc.
• stainless steel is a relatively poor electrical conductor.
• the introduction of an electrically conductive metal cladding will permit the ready transfer of electrical current along the hanger bar into the blade of the cathode plate.
• the electrically conductive cladding surrounds the exposed portions of the support element, and extends part way down from the support element along the blade of the cathode. This embodiment reduces the electrical resistance to current passing through the bar onto the blade and in addition reduces the possibility of bi-metallic corrosion of the joint between the electrically conductive metal and the cathode blade which is normally made from stainless steel.
• the production of the hanger bar itself is much simpler that conventional mechanisms. For instance, it is not necessary to use a portion of the hanger bar as weld material. Nor is it necessary to electroplate the hanger bar.
• the entire assembly is inverted and dipped into an electrolytic bath a sufficient depth to electroplate the hanger bar with a conductive metal. The cost and handling difficulties associated with this mechanism are clear. Affixing a cladding of electrically conductive metal to the support element is much simpler, more cost effective and more accurate than current techniques.
• the present invention provides a method of producing a cathode plate for electrolytic recovery of metal comprising providing a cathode blade, connecting a corrosion resistant support element to the cathode blade and affixing a cladding of electrically conductive metal to the support element.
• Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cathode plate incorporating the hanger bar of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a sectional view through section A-A of Figure 1 showing the hanger bar in use according to a first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the hanger bar and cathode blade according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• a cathode plate 1 comprises a hanger bar 10 and a cathode blade 20. Windows 15 are cut from the cathode blade 20 to assist in lifting and transportation of the cathode 1.
• the cathode blade 20 is a stainless steel blade.
• the blade can be manufactured from any suitable material. Titanium and other metals may be used in electro-refining operations.
• the hanger bar 10 comprises a support element 22 with a cladding 24 of electrically conductive metal affixed thereto.
• the support element 10 is stainless steel bar.
• the stainless steel bar 22 is hollow but is preferably sealed at the ends. It is not essential that the stainless steel bar 22 be hollow.
• the cladding of electrically conductive material 24, in this example copper, is affixed around the stainless steel bar 22. This sleeve acts to conduct electricity from the electrical connections in the electrolytic bath through the hanger bar to the cathode blade. Typically, the cladding would be around 2 to 4 mm thick.
• Welds 26 run along the terminating edge of copper cladding 24 connecting the copper sleeve to the plate/bar assembly.
• any welding material is suitable provided it can withstand the electrolytic environment in which the cathode plate is used. Aluminium bronze and silicone bronze are particularly suitable weld metals.
• the cladding may be affixed to the support element by a variety of techniques including interference fit, chemical or mechanical fastening or roll forming.
• the sleeve may include an extension 28 onto the cathode plate 10.
• This extension is to reduce electrical resistance between the hanger bar and the copper blade, and reduce bi-metallic corrosion between the hanger bar and the plate.
• this extension terminates on or about the level of windows 23 or 30 to 40 mm above the level of electrolyte.
• the separate manufacture and subsequent affixing of the cladding to the support element provides for closer tolerances and a more precise engineering of the cladding thickness. This is important to maintain vertical alignment of the cathode plate in the electrolytic cell when resting on the electrical connectors either side of the electrolytic bar.
• the present invention allows precise tolerances to be applied to the hanger bar not only to repair the hanger bar but provide a more precise engineering of the cladding thickness and hence alignment of the cathode plate in the bar.
• the hanger bar and method of production may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
• Prevention Of Electric Corrosion (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=3833764

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2002
  • 2002-01-25 AU AUPS0159A patent/AUPS015902A0/en not_active Abandoned
• 2003
  • 2003-01-24 AR ARP030100218A patent/AR042604A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-01-24 PE PE2003000076A patent/PE20030892A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-01-28 AT AT03700227T patent/ATE551446T1/de active
  • 2003-01-28 WO PCT/AU2003/000086 patent/WO2003062497A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-01-28 CN CNB038026201A patent/CN100424231C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-01-28 EP EP03700227A patent/EP1483432B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-01-28 AU AU2003201532A patent/AU2003201532B2/en not_active Expired
  • 2003-01-28 BR BRPI0307112-0A patent/BR0307112B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-01-28 US US10/501,735 patent/US7332064B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-07-06 ZA ZA2004/05375A patent/ZA200405375B/en unknown

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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